Building record MAB41217 - COWIE LINE
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Summary
Remains of tank defence, constructed during World War II (circa 1940).
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 6437
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 7638 8729 (285m by 216m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO78NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Glenbervie |
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
Remains of tank defence, constructed during World War II (circa 1940). It consists of an artificially steepened hillslope base, revetted with five posts tied by wire into the bank. Set some 10m forward between the bottom of the slope and the burn is a low artificial bank. A very well preserved Type 22 pillbox sits on a bluff overlooking a bridge over the Cowie Water. The pillbox is probably the most intact on the line. It is buried up to the level of the gun-loops and has thick soil covering the roof, making it heavily camouflaged. The walls are circa 1 m thick and the roof is concrete over corrugated iron shuttering. There is a rifle loop to the left of the door, single loops on the northwest, northeast and southeast faces and a double loop on the northeast face (looking towards the ford). The letters 'BED' are inscribed on the internal faces of two of the lintels and on the outer and inner surface of one loophole. The bridge is later and the pillbox originally defended a ford.
MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2002, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, FETTERESSO FOREST, ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB5063.
BARCLAY, G J, 2005, THE COWIE LINE (PSAS 135: P119-61), 140-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2285.
THE COWIE LINE
CFA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2012, MID HILL WIND FARM SUBSTATION, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MITIGATION (Bibliographic reference). SAB5348.
SSEN, 2024, HURLIE 400KV SUBSTATION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (Bibliographic reference). SAB4889.
Aug 17 1987 , COLOUR PRINTS, COLOUR PRINTS (Ground Photograph). SAB15831.
Jun 15 2010 , DG1697-1713, DG1697-1713 (Ground Photograph). SAB12978.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 6437;
- NMR Card Number: NO78NE10;
- NRHE Numlink: 114859;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO78NE0010;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM6437 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/114859 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SAB12978 Ground Photograph: Jun 15 2010 . DG1697-1713. Digital. DG1697-1713.
- --- SAB15831 Ground Photograph: Aug 17 1987 . COLOUR PRINTS. Colour Negative. COLOUR PRINTS.
- --- SAB2285 Bibliographic reference: BARCLAY, G J. 2005. THE COWIE LINE (PSAS 135: P119-61). N. 140-2.
- --- SAB4889 Bibliographic reference: SSEN. 2024. HURLIE 400KV SUBSTATION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
- --- SAB5063 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 2002. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, FETTERESSO FOREST, ABERDEENSHIRE .
- --- SAB5348 Bibliographic reference: CFA ARCHAEOLOGY. 2012. MID HILL WIND FARM SUBSTATION, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MITIGATION.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Jun 25 2025 3:36PM
